Participant Impact

Challenges

Women and Girls

Support Women-Owned Businesses

I will spend 20 minutes each day researching women-owned businesses I can support when shopping.

COMPLETED 22 OF 22
DAILY CHALLENGE

Buildings and Cities

Choose LED Bulbs

#33 LED Lighting (Household)

I will replace 10 incandescent lightbulb(s) with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, saving up to $14 per fixture per year.

Completed One-Time Challenge

Food

Smaller Portions

#3 Reduced Food Waste

I will use smaller plates and/or serve smaller portions when dishing out food.

COMPLETED 20 OF 22
DAILY CHALLENGE

Buildings and Cities

Go for a Daily Walk

#54 Walkable Cities

I will take a walk for 30 minutes each day and take note of the infrastructure that makes walking more or less enjoyable, accessible, and possible.

COMPLETED 19 OF 22
DAILY CHALLENGE

Materials

Recycle Everything I Can

#55 Household Recycling

I will recycle all materials that are accepted by local haulers or drop stations in my community.

COMPLETED 20 OF 22
DAILY CHALLENGE

Food

Learn the Truth About Expiration Dates

#3 Reduced Food Waste

I will spend at least 10 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.

Completed One-Time Challenge

Food

Keep Track of Wasted Food

#3 Reduced Food Waste

I will keep a daily log of food I throw away during the EcoChallenge, either because it went bad before I ate it, I put too much on my plate, or it was scraps from food preparation.

COMPLETED 20 OF 22
DAILY CHALLENGE

Feed

ReflectionQuestion

Women and GirlsSupport Women-Owned Businesses

Globally, women typically invest a higher proportion of their earnings in their families and communities than men. How can you better support communities by supporting women? Can you share any past experiences that may help others take action?

As I been reading about women owned business this month. It was good to hear of all the agencies that support their development and growth. The Small Business Development Center, Women's Business Center at Canisius College, and the MWBE programs, all help and support women in business. Networking among women business leaders contributes greatly to success and the National Association of Women's Business Owners is very active in Western NY. For my daughters who are always pitching their many business Ideas to me ala Shark Tank the SBDC at Buffalo State College runs a KidsBiz program which has brought forth many past entrepreneurs who have continued their businesses into adulthood.

Last day of Challenge and it's our recycle day. Sad statistic that only 1/3 of household's recycle in Western NY. However, I still have hope as the kids in the area are far more aware and seem to have taken to recycling as a common task and they know which containers to use sometimes better than I do as we clean up on the walks. Also 2-3 years ago no one seemed to be talking straws no my kids and their finds are driven that they don't need them. Maybe generational differences but positive changes I hope to see continue.

Replaced what was left of any incandescent bulbs tonight at the home. Spoke to the Library's Maintenance Chief last week and as of the end of this month Central and the B&ECPL system libraries will be replacing all lighting to energy saving LED tubes, about 1500 bulbs. Had to to change what I had after hearing this. Cheers to Maintenance!!

Walking to the store with one bag that can fit two days of meals is combining the walk, smaller portions and trying to not wast food. Have to get this into a habit well beyond this challenge. I am lucky to have a food store close by to walk to. I'm thinking about downtown Buffalo and how the new grocery store going in between the library and bus terminal will change the commuters lives for the better

Tracking the food wast of my family is eye opening. Did not do the BIG shopping last week as normal but I see the wast through spoiling from past trips. How we eat vs what we buy needs some thought. Going to try every three day shopping to get what we need

Fun fact: Your brain and stomach register feelings of fullness after about 20 minutes of eating. While dishing food out, we tend to load our plates with more than we need. Using smaller plates helps to mitigate this. Aside from the environmental benefits, what other benefits might come out of eating smaller portions?

Family of five, three kids under 16 very picky. I'm only making enough for one meal knowing the kids will be leaving me a complete meal combined for left over lunch. Have to cook small knowing they will pick later at something else. They seem to love coring apples so thats' one plus, wont have wrappers and can compost. Wish I could find seasonal foods they would all eat

Lunch Time walk Downtown Buffalo just brisk not cold! Is it sad that you see people and they all say "Hey they let you out!" I need to get out more. We do have the Bikeshare downtown Buffalo so these walks may become longer journeys as the spring and summer roll in.

Erie County, in partnership with the City of Buffalo, the Town of Wheatfield, and the Western New York Stormwater Coalition, is once again offering rain barrels and compost bins. visit www.eriecompostersale.ecwid.com. Quantities are limited. Deadline to order is May 3.

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